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Understanding the regulatory mechanisms controlling storage lipid accumulation will inform strategies to enhance seed oil quality and quantity in crop plants. The WRINKLED1 transcription factor (WRI1 TF) is a central regulator of lipid biosynthesis. We characterized the genome-wide binding profile of soybean (Gm)WRI1 and show that the TF directly regulates genes encoding numerous enzymes and proteins in the fatty acid and triacylglycerol biosynthetic pathways. GmWRI1 binds primarily to regions downstream of target gene transcription start sites. We showed that GmWRI1-bound regions are enriched for the canonical WRI1 DNA binding element, the ACTIVATOR of Spomin::LUC1/WRI1 (AW) Box (CNTNGNNNNNNNCG), and another DNA motif, the CNC Box (CNCCNCC). Functional assays showed that both DNA elements mediate transcriptional activation by GmWRI1. We also show that GmWRI1 works in concert with other TFs to establish a regulatory state that promotes fatty acid and triacylglycerol biosynthesis. In particular, comparison of genes targeted directly by GmWRI1 and by GmLEC1, a central regulator of the maturation phase of seed development, reveals that the two TFs act in a positive feedback subcircuit to control fatty acid and triacylglycerol biosynthesis. Together, our results provide unique insights into the genetic circuitry in which GmWRI1 participates to regulate storage lipid accumulation during seed development.

Key messageSpecific combinations of LFY and WAPO1 natural alleles maximize spikelet number per spike in wheat. Spikelet number per spike (SNS) is an important yield component in wheat that determines the maximum number of grains that can be formed in a wheat spike. In wheat, loss-of-function mutations in LEAFY (LFY) or its interacting protein WHEAT ORTHOLOG OF APO1 (WAPO1) significantly reduce SNS by reducing the rate of formation of spikelet meristems. In previous studies, we identified a natural amino acid change in WAPO1 (C47F) that significantly increases SNS in hexaploid wheat. In this study, we searched for natural variants in LFY that were associated with differences in SNS and detected significant effects in the LFY-B region in a nested association mapping population. We generated a large mapping population and confirmed that the LFY-B polymorphism R80S is linked with the differences in SNS, suggesting that LFY-B is the likely causal gene. A haplotype analysis revealed two amino acid changes P34L and R80S, which were both enriched during wheat domestication and breeding suggesting positive selection. We also explored the interactions between the LFY and WAPO1 natural variants for SNS using biparental populations and identified significant interaction, in which the positive effect of the 80S and 34L alleles from LFY-B was only detected in the WAPO-A1 47F background but not in the 47C background. Based on these results, we propose that the allele combination WAPO-A1-47F/LFY-B 34L 80S can be used in wheat breeding programs to maximize SNS and increase grain yield potential in wheat.

Hemipteran insects transmit viruses when infesting plants, during which vectors activate salicylic acid (SA)-regulated antiviral defenses. How vector-borne plant viruses circumvent these antiviral defenses is largely unexplored. During co-infections of begomoviruses and betasatellites in plants, betasatellite-encoded βC1 proteins interfere with SA signaling and reduce the activation of antiviral resistance. βC1 inhibits SA-induced degradation of NbNPR3 (Nicotiana benthamiana nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related genes 3), a negative regulator of SA signaling. βC1 does not bind directly to NbNPR3, but regulates NbNPR3 degradation via heat shock protein 90s (NbHSP90s). NbHSP90s bind to both NbNPR3 and βC1 and suppress SA signaling. This viral success strategy appears to be conserved as it is also documented for viral proteins encoded by two aphid-borne viruses. Our findings reveal an exquisite mechanism that facilitates the persistence of vector-borne plant viruses and provide important insights into the intricacies of the virus life cycle.

Proteolysis, including post-translational proteolytic processing as well as protein degradation and amino acid recycling, is an essential component of the growth and development of living organisms. In this article, experts in plant proteolysis pose and discuss compelling open questions in their areas of research. Topics covered include the role of proteolysis in the cell cycle, DNA damage response, mitochondrial function, the generation of N-terminal signals (degrons) that mark many proteins for degradation (N-terminal acetylation, the Arg/N-degron pathway, and the chloroplast N-degron pathway), developmental and metabolic signaling (photomorphogenesis, abscisic acid and strigolactone signaling, sugar metabolism, and postharvest regulation), plant responses to environmental signals (endoplasmic-reticulum-associated degradation, chloroplast-associated degradation, drought tolerance, and the growth-defense trade-off), and the functional diversification of peptidases. We hope these thought-provoking discussions help to stimulate further research.

Modification of lignin in feedstocks via genetic engineering aims to reduce biomass recalcitrance to facilitate efficient conversion processes. These improvements can be achieved by expressing exogenous enzymes that interfere with native biosynthetic pathways responsible for the production of the lignin precursors. In planta expression of a bacterial 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase in poplar trees reduced lignin content and altered the monomer composition, which enabled higher yields of sugars after cell wall polysaccharide hydrolysis. Understanding how plants respond to such genetic modifications at the transcriptional and metabolic levels is needed to facilitate further improvement and field deployment. In this work, we acquired fundamental knowledge on lignin-modified poplar expressing 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase using RNA-seq and metabolomics. The data clearly demonstrate that changes in gene expression and metabolite abundance can occur in a strict spatiotemporal fashion, revealing tissue-specific responses in the xylem, phloem, or periderm. In the poplar line that exhibited the strongest reduction in lignin, we found that 3% of the transcripts had altered expression levels and ~19% of the detected metabolites had differential abundance in the xylem from older stems. The changes affected predominantly the shikimate and phenylpropanoid pathways as well as secondary cell wall metabolism, and resulted in significant accumulation of hydroxybenzoates derived from protocatechuate and salicylate.

KAI2 receptors, classified as plant α/β hydrolase enzymes, are capable of perceiving smoke-derived butenolide signals and endogenous yet unidentified KAI2-ligands (KLs). While the number of functional KAI2 receptors varies among land plant species, rice has only one KAI2 gene. Rice, a significant crop and representative of grasses, relies on KAI2-mediated Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbioses to flourish in traditionally arid and nutrient-poor environments. This study presents the first crystal structure of an active rice (Oryza sativa, Os) KAI2 hydrolase receptor. Our structural and biochemical analyses uncover grass-unique pocket residues influencing ligand sensitivity and hydrolytic activity. Through structure-guided analysis, we identify a specific residue whose mutation enables the increase or decrease of ligand perception, catalytic activity, and signal transduction. Furthermore, we investigate OsKAI2-mediated signaling by examining its ability to form a complex with its binding partner, the F-box protein DWARF3 (D3) ubiquitin ligase and subsequent degradation of the target substrate OsSMAX1, demonstrating the significant role of hydrophobic interactions in the OsKAI2-D3 interface. This study provides new insights into the diverse and pivotal roles of the OsKAI2 signaling pathway in the plant kingdom, particularly in grasses.

Maintenance of water homeostasis is a fundamental cellular process required by all living organisms. Here, we use the single-celled green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to establish a foundational understanding of osmotic-stress signaling pathways through transcriptomics, phosphoproteomics, and functional genomics approaches. Comparison of pathways identified through these analyses with yeast and Arabidopsis allows us to infer their evolutionary conservation and divergence across these lineages. 76 genes, acting across diverse cellular compartments, were found to be important for osmotic-stress tolerance in Chlamydomonas through their functions in cytoskeletal organization, potassium transport, vesicle trafficking, mitogen-activated protein kinase and chloroplast signaling. We show that homologs for five of these genes have conserved functions in stress tolerance in Arabidopsis and reveal a novel PROFILIN-dependent stage of acclimation affecting the actin cytoskeleton that ensures tissue integrity upon osmotic stress. This study highlights the conservation of the stress response in algae and land plants, and establishes Chlamydomonas as a unicellular plant model system to dissect the osmotic stress signaling pathway.

Excessive nitrogen promotes the formation of nonproductive tillers in rice, which decreases nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Developing high-NUE rice cultivars through balancing nitrogen uptake and the formation of productive tillers remains a long-standing challenge, yet how these two processes are coordinated in rice remains elusive. Here we identify the transcription factor OsGATA8 as a key coordinator of nitrogen uptake and tiller formation in rice. OsGATA8 negatively regulates nitrogen uptake by repressing transcription of the ammonium transporter gene OsAMT3.2. Meanwhile, it promotes tiller formation by repressing the transcription of OsTCP19, a negative modulator of tillering. We identify OsGATA8-H as a high-NUE haplotype with enhanced nitrogen uptake and a higher proportion of productive tillers. The geographical distribution of OsGATA8-H and its frequency change in historical accessions suggest its adaption to the fertile soil. Overall, this study provides molecular and evolutionary insights into the regulation of NUE and facilitates the breeding of rice cultivars with higher NUE.

P/TGMS (Photo/thermo-sensitive genic male sterile) lines are crucial resources for two-line hybrid rice breeding. Previous studies revealed that slow development is a general mechanism for sterility-fertility conversion of P/TGMS in Arabidopsis. However, the difference in P/TGMS genes between rice and Arabidopsis suggests the presence of a distinct P/TGMS mechanism in rice. In this study, we isolated a novel P/TGMS line, ostms19, which shows sterility under high-temperature conditions and fertility under low-temperature conditions. OsTMS19 encodes a novel pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein essential for pollen formation, in which a point mutation GTA(Val) to GCA(Ala) leads to ostms19 P/TGMS phenotype. It is highly expressed in the tapetum and localized to mitochondria. Under high temperature or long-day photoperiod conditions, excessive ROS accumulation in ostms19 anthers during pollen mitosis disrupts gene expression and intine formation, causing male sterility. Conversely, under low temperature or short-day photoperiod conditions, ROS can be effectively scavenged in anthers, resulting in fertility restoration. This indicates that ROS homeostasis is critical for fertility conversion. This relationship between ROS homeostasis and fertility conversion has also been observed in other tested rice P/TGMS lines. Therefore, we propose that ROS homeostasis is a general mechanism for the sterility-fertility conversion of rice P/TGMS lines.

Recent studies in the rice genome-wide have established that de novo genes, evolving from noncoding sequences, enhance protein diversity through a stepwise process. However, the pattern and rate of their evolution in protein structure over time remain unclear. Here, we addressed these issues within a surprisingly short evolutionary timescale (

Tremendous plant metabolic diversity arises from phylogenetically restricted specialized metabolic pathways. Specialized metabolites are synthesized in dedicated cells or tissues, with pathway genes sometimes colocalizing in biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). However, the mechanisms by which spatial expression patterns arise and the role of BGCs in pathway evolution remain underappreciated. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms driving acylsugar evolution in the Solanaceae. Previously thought to be restricted to glandular trichomes, acylsugars were recently found in cultivated tomato roots. We demonstrated that acylsugars in cultivated tomato roots and trichomes have different sugar cores, identified root-enriched paralogs of trichome acylsugar pathway genes, and characterized a key paralog required for root acylsugar biosynthesis, SlASAT1-LIKE (SlASAT1-L), which is nested within a previously reported trichome acylsugar BGC. Last, we provided evidence that ASAT1-L arose through duplication of its paralog, ASAT1, and was trichome-expressed before acquiring root-specific expression in the Solanum genus. Our results illuminate the genomic context and molecular mechanisms underpinning metabolic diversity in plants.

The model moss species Physcomitrium patens has long been used for studying divergence of land plants spanning from bryophytes to angiosperms. In addition to its phylogenetic relationships, the limited number of differential tissues, and comparable morphology to the earliest embryophytes provide a system to represent basic plant architecture. Based on plant-fungal interactions today, it is hypothesized these kingdoms have a long-standing relationship, predating plant terrestrialization. Mortierellaceae have origins diverging from other land fungi paralleling bryophyte divergence, are related to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi but are free-living, observed to interact with plants, and can be found in moss microbiomes globally. Due to their parallel origins, we assess here how two Mortierellaceae species, Linnemannia elongata and Benniella erionia, interact with P. patens in coculture. We also assess how Mollicute-related or Burkholderia-related endobacterial symbionts (MRE or BRE) of these fungi impact plant response. Coculture interactions are investigated through high-throughput phenomics, microscopy, RNA-sequencing, differential expression profiling, gene ontology enrichment, and comparisons among 99 other P. patens transcriptomic studies. Here we present new high-throughput approaches for measuring P. patens growth, identify novel expression of over 800 genes that are not expressed on traditional agar media, identify subtle interactions between P. patens and Mortierellaceae, and observe changes to plant-fungal interactions dependent on whether MRE or BRE are present. Our study provides insights into how plants and fungal partners may have interacted based on their communications observed today as well as identifying L. elongata and B. erionia as modern fungal endophytes with P. patens.

The rice receptor kinase XA21 confers broad-spectrum resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causal agent of rice bacterial blight disease. To investigate the relationship between the expression level of XA21 and resulting resistance, we generated independent HA-XA21 transgenic rice lines accumulating the XA21 immune receptor fused with an HA epitope tag. Whole-genome sequence analysis identified the T-DNA insertion sites in sixteen independent T0 events. Through quantification of the HA-XA21 protein and assessment of the resistance to Xoo strain PXO99 in six independent transgenic lines, we observed that XA21-mediated resistance is dose dependent. In contrast, based on the four agronomic traits quantified in these experiments, yield is unlikely to be affected by the expression level of HA-XA21. These findings extend our knowledge of XA21-mediated defense and contribute to the growing number of well-defined genomic landing pads in the rice genome that can be targeted for gene insertion without compromising yield.

Proteins and essential fatty acids are crucial components of the human diet. However, lipids and proteins are susceptible to oxidative modification during food processing resulting in changes to their structural characteristics and functional properties. Food products rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids are highly susceptible to lipid peroxidation and generate bifunctional reactive aldehydes. Bifunctional aldehydes such as malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), and 4-oxo-2-nonenal (4-ONE) readily bind to protein nucleophiles and lead to intra- or intermolecular protein cross-linking. In comparison with lipid oxidation, the degradation of proteins by prooxidants appears to be more intricate and results in a greater diversity of oxidation products. Although individual oxidation processes involving lipids and proteins received increasing attention in the past decades, the interactions between those aldehydes and protein oxidation in food have not been extensively explored. Studies indicate that the reactions of lipid and protein oxidation may take place simultaneously or independently, but oxidation products that arose from one reaction may further interact with lipids or proteins. The present review presents a perspective on reactive aldehydes and the role of aldehydes in inducing protein oxidation in muscle foods. Emphasis is focused on the interaction mechanism of the lipid, protein, and myoglobin protein oxidations. In addition, the occurrence of aldehydes derived from lipid oxidation in food systems as well as the endogenous antioxidant peptides or amino acids in meat and plant proteins are also briefly described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenols have a variety of physiological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, their applications are often limited because due to the instability of polyphenols. Encapsulation technologies can be employed to overcome these problems and increase the utilization of polyphenols. In this article, the utilization of protein-based nanoparticles for encapsulating polyphenols is reviewed due to their good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and functional attributes. Initially, the various kinds of animal and plant proteins available for forming protein nanoparticles are discussed, as well as the fabrication methods that can be used to assemble these nanoparticles. The molecular interaction mechanisms between proteins and polyphenols are then summarized. Applications of protein-based nanoparticles for encapsulating polyphenols are then discussed, including as nutrient delivery systems, in food packaging materials, and in the creation of functional foods. Finally, areas where further research is need on the development, characterization, and application of protein-based polyphenol-loaded nanoparticles are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of low-fish meal diets (LFMD), incorporating animal (tankage meal, tuna byproduct meal and poultry byproduct meal) and plant (soy protein concentrate and wheat gluten meal) protein sources as a fish meal (FM) replacement in juvenile olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. A control diet (FM70) was prepared to contain 70% of sardine and anchovy FM (1:1, v:v). Six experimental diets were formulated reducing FM levels in FM70 diet down to 35, 30, 25, 20, 15 and 10% (designated as FM35, FM30, FM25, FM20, FM15 and FM10, respectively) with increasing proportions of animal and plant protein sources. Fish (initial mean body weight: 22.3 ± 0.01 g) were fed each experimental diet for 12 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, growth performance, survival and biological indices were not affected by dietary FM levels. Feed utilization was significantly decreased in FM15 and FM10 groups than in FM70 group. The gene expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was significantly upregulated in FM10 group compared to FM70 group. In muscle fatty acid profiles, a reduction in palmitoleic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids was observed, while oleic and linoleic acid levels increased with the decrease in dietary FM levels. These results indicate that the combined use of animal and plant protein sources would be a good option as a FM substitute for juvenile olive flounder. Considered with the decrease in feed utilization and upregulation of TNF-α gene expression, the dietary FM levels could be reduced only down to 20%. These results could be helpful to research the alternative sources of FM substitutes in feed formulations for carnivorous fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, there has been a promising increase in market trends toward plant proteins. This trend is expected to persist in coming years due to more sustainability, lower environmental footprints, and health benefits associated with plant proteins along with the recent surge in veganism. To meet market demand, plant-based proteins must compete with or outperform conventional animal proteins in terms of quality and functionality. However, plant proteins possess lower digestibility/solubility, lower water/oil holding capacity, and unfavorable emulsifying/foaming properties, which limit their bioavailability and functionality. The presence of anti-nutrients and non-digestible polysaccharides also results in lower quality, making it necessary to modify these properties through chemical, physical, and enzymatic methods. Food industries prefer physical and biological approaches over chemical approaches due to clean label demand and toxicity issues encountered while applying chemical methods. In this article, we investigate research progress in plant protein modification area using physical approaches comprising ultrasonication, pulse electric field, microwaves, extrusion, gamma irradiation, high-pressure processing, radiofrequency, and cold plasma. This review also highlights associated functionality challenges and summarizes recent studies in an attempt to improve plant protein functionality for obtaining multifunctional proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The process of Maillard conjugation occurs with plant proteins and sugars and can be influenced by several factors, such as processing time, pH, and shear force. By utilizing cavitation processes such as high‐pressure homogenization (HPH) and pH‐shifting, it is possible to regulate the degree of grafting, functional characteristics, and structural changes in the formation of conjugates. The present study aimed to improve the hemp protein concentrate (HPC) through two different conjugation techniques: HPH and pH‐shifting‐assisted processes. RESULTS: The best conjugation conditions for the conventional method were identified as a 1:2 HPC to xylose ratio, a pH of 10, and 3 h of treatment at 70 °C. The use of HPH and pH 12‐shifting methods resulted in a remarkable 2.5‐fold increase in grafting degree, requiring less processing time. Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed the formation of conjugates. Conjugates produced through HPH with pH 12‐shifting (MPHX) transformed into soluble glycoproteins with a particle size of 74 nm. MPHX solubility increased by 5.7‐fold than HPC, reaching 85.7%, with a more negatively charged surface at −32.4 mV. Microimages showed cracked and sharp forms for conjugated proteins compared to untreated HPC. Additionally, MPHX conjugates demonstrated superior properties in emulsion stability, foaming capacity, and antioxidant activity compared to HPC and classical conjugates. CONCLUSION: The use of HPH and pH‐shifting‐assisted Maillard conjugation was highly effective in enhancing the functional attributes of hemp protein conjugates. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Use of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) with reduced processing times is gaining traction in the food industry as an alternative to conventional thermal treatment. In order to enhance functional benefits while minimizing processing losses, functionalized products are being developed with such novel techniques. In this study, changes in quality parameters for HHP treated enriched tomato sauce were evaluated, with the aim to assess its viability as an alternative to conventional thermal treatment methods. RESULTS: HHP treatments at 500 MPa, 30 °C/50 °C significantly increased the total phenolic and lycopene content of the sauce samples, achieving 6.7% and 7.5% improvements over conventionally treated samples. The antioxidant capacity of the HHP‐treated samples was also found to match or be better than conventionally treated samples. Furthermore, a T2 relaxation time study revealed that pressure–temperature processing treatments were effective in maintaining the structural integrity of water molecules. Microbiological analyses revealed that 500 MPa/50 °C 5 min treatment can offer 8 logs reduction colony formation, matching the results of conventional thermal treatment. CONCLUSION: Combined pressure–temperature treatments improve results, reduce time consumption. 500 MPa/50 °C treatments provided retention of quality parameters and significant reduction in microbial activity. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WRKY transcription factors (TF) are identified as important regulating plant proteins involved in stress response signaling pathways. Overexpression of these transcription factors in plants improved plant biotic and abiotic stress responses. In this context, we have envisaged transferring a cDNA encoding the grapevine VvWRKY2TF in potato plants. Four transgenic lines were selected (BFW2A, BFW2C, BFW2D, and BFW2F). In the present study, their response to Cadmium (Cd) stress (50, 100, 150, and 300 μM) was evaluated in vitro. Cadmium is recognized as being among the most harmful heavy metals to plants. Its accumulation in plant cells and tissues disturbs cell homeostasis and causes numerous metabolic damages that affect productivity. The wildtype (WT) plants from the BF15 potato variety and the transgenic plants overexpressing VvWRKY2TF were submitted to cadmium in vitro stress for 20 days. Plant growth and oxidative stress parameters were followed in these plants. All transgenic plants appeared more vigorous than WT. The BFW2A, BFW2C, and BFW2D lines showed better stem development rates than the WT and BFW2F lines. Malondialdehyde (MDA) production in both roots and leaves was reduced in BFW2A, BFW2C, and BFW2D plants as compared to BFW2F and WT plants. This result was associated with the best antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) displayed by these genetically modified lines suggesting their better adaptation to Cd stress conditions. Cd accumulation in plant tissues was investigated, and higher levels of Cd were found in transgenic plants than in WT plants. These findings point to a functional Cd sequestration mechanism in the roots of transgenic plants expressing VvWRKY2. These findings imply that the VvWRKY2 TF is implicated in heavy metal response signaling processes. Its overexpression in plants may be an efficient strategy to reduce the negative effects of Cd stress, promoting the growth patterns and the activity of reactive oxygen species-scavenging enzymes in potato plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between plant protein, animal protein and biological aging through different dimensions of biological aging indices. Then explore the effects of substitution of plant protein, animal protein, and their food sources on biological aging. Methods: The data came from 79,294 participants in the UK Biobank who completed at least two 24-h dietary assessments. Higher Klemera-Doubal Method Biological Age (HKDM-BA), higher PhenoAge (HPA), higher allostatic load (HAL), and longer telomere length (LTL) were estimated to assess biological aging. Logistic regression was used to estimate protein-biological aging associations. Substitution model was performed to assess the effect of dietary protein substitutions. Results: Plant protein intake was inversely associated with HKDM-BA, HPA, HAL, and positively associated with LTL (odds ratios after fully adjusting and comparing the highest to the lowest quartile: 0.83 (0.79–0.88) for HKDM-BA, 0.86 (0.72–0.94) for HPA, 0.90 (0.85–0.95) for HAL, 1.06 (1.01–1.12) for LTL), while animal protein was not correlated with the four indices. Substituting 5% of energy intake from animal protein with plant protein, replacing red meat or poultry with whole grains, and replacing red or processed meat with nuts, were negatively associated with HKDM-BA, HPA, HAL and positively associated with LTL. However, an inverse association was found when legumes were substituted for yogurt. Gamma glutamyltransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase mediated the relationship between plant protein and HKDM-BA, HPA, HAL, and LTL (mediation proportion 11.5–24.5%; 1.9–6.7%; 2.8–4.5%, respectively). Conclusion: Higher plant protein intake is inversely associated with biological aging. Although there is no association with animal protein, food with animal proteins displayed a varied correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-based protein sources as a sustainable alternative to animal sources are highly relevant for food and dietary supplements industries. Plant proteins are becoming popular as an eco-friendly source for meeting global protein requirements due to their importance in nutrition, management of metabolic diseases, biological activities, functionality in processed food products and their low carbon footprints. We applied biochemical protein extraction protocol and prepared protein concentrate from an underutilised cereal, foxtail millet, with plausible applications in foods and supplements. Herein efforts were utilised to obtain foxtail millet protein (FMP) concentrate by means of standardisation of processes of extraction cum isolation. The conditions including flour to solvent ratio, extraction-precipitation pH, dissolution time, etc. were optimised to significantly improve protein yield and recovery. The FMP concentrate prepared was also analysed for nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, amino acid content and digestion properties in comparison to packaged brown rice protein concentrate. The protein concentrate prepared was found to have high digestibility, rich in essential amino acids with good phenolic and flavonoid content, thereby making it a potential sensory and antioxidant additive for food/pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise in the global population, which is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, has resulted in an increased demand for proteins in the human diet. The green leaves of many plants are an affordable, abundant, and sustainable source of proteins suitable for human consumption. This article reviews the various sources of green leaf proteins that may play an important role in alleviating global malnutrition, including those from alfalfa, amaranth, cabbage, cassava, duckweed, moringa, olive, radish, spinach, sugar beet, and tea. The structure of green leaves and the location of the proteins within these leaves are described, as well as methods for extracting and purifying these proteins. The composition, nutritional profile, and functional attributes of green leaf proteins are then discussed. The potential advantages and disadvantages of using green leaf proteins as functional food ingredients are highlighted. The importance of obtaining a better understanding of the composition and structure of different green leaves and the proteins extracted from them is highlighted. This includes an assessment of non-protein nitrogen and anti-nutritional compounds that may be present. Furthermore, the impact of isolation and purification techniques on the functionality of the plant protein ingredients obtained must be carefully evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of Alhagi maurorum ethanolic extract (AME) in concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis (CIH) as well as possible underlying mechanisms. Methods: Polyphenols in AME were characterized using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Swiss albino mice were divided into 4 groups. Normal group received intravenous phosphate-buffered saline (PBS); Con A group received 40 mg/kg intravenous Con A. Prophylaxis group administered 300 mg/(kg·d) AME orally for 5 days before Con A intervention. Treatment group received intravenous Con A then administered 300 mg/kg AME at 30 min and 3 h after Con A intervention. After 24 h of Con A injection, hepatic injury, oxidative stress, and inflammatory mediators were assessed. Histopathological examination and markers of apoptosis, inflammation, and CD4+ cell infiltration were also investigated. Results: HPLC analysis revealed that AME contains abundant polyphenols with pharmacological constituents, such as ellagic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, methylgallate, and naringenin. AME alleviated Con A-induced hepatic injury, as manifested by a significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase (P<0.01). Additionally, the antioxidant effect of AME was revealed by a significant reduction in oxidative stress markers (nitric oxide and malondialdehyde) and restored glutathione (P<0.01). The levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, and interleukin-6) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity were reduced (P<0.01). Histopathological examination of liver tissue showed that AME significantly ameliorated necrotic and inflammatory lesions induced by Con A (P<0.01). Moreover, AME reduced the expression of nuclear factor kappa B, pro-apoptotic protein (Bax), caspase-3, and CD4+ T cell hepatic infiltration (P<0.01). The expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was increased (P<0.01). Conclusion: AME has hepatoprotective and ameliorative effects in CIH mice. These beneficial effects are likely due to the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects of the clinically important polyphenolic content. AME could be a novel and promising hepatoprotective agent for managing immune-mediated hepatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global transition towards sustainable living has led to a growing demand for innovative food products that enhance environmental sustainability. Traditional meat production is known for its high energy consumption and significant carbon emissions, necessitating alternative approaches. Plant-based meat (PBM) offers a promising solution to reduce the ecological footprint of animal agriculture. This paper examines various challenges in PBM development, including nutritional equivalence, industrial scalability, organoleptic properties, and digestibility. Addressing these challenges requires interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure consumer acceptance, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship. Advanced technologies like nanotechnology, fermentation, and enzymatic hydrolysis, along with automation and repurposing cattle farms, offer solutions to enhance PBM's quality and production efficiency. By integrating these innovations, PBM has the potential to revolutionize the food industry, offering sustainable and nutritious alternatives that meet global dietary needs while significantly reducing environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diverse rhabdoviruses infecting plants and animals have conserved genome organizations, and the functions of viral structural proteins have been extensively studied. However, increasing number of rhabdoviruses have been found to encode various accessory proteins, whose specific roles during viral infection remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the function of the X proteins encoded by several members of the genus Alphanucleorhabdovirus. Using the recently established eggplant mottled dwarf virus (EMDV) reverse genetics system, we found that recombinant EMDV lacking the X gene was able to systemically infect Nicotiana benthamiana plants, albeit with reduced efficiency. However, this deletion mutant was largely restricted to the veinal tissues and caused asymptomatic infections. The EMDV X protein, which localized to the cytoplasm when expressed alone, was translocated to the nucleus via a specific interaction with the nucleocapsid (N) protein. Through analyzing the interactions of the X deletion mutants and the infection phenotypes of the derived EMDV deletion mutants, we demonstrated that the carboxyl-terminal region of the X protein (amino acids 71–83) is crucial for its interaction with the N protein and for viral pathogenesis. Moreover, the X proteins encoded by related alphanucleorhabdoviruses could fully or partially complement the functions of EMDV X in viral infection. These findings provide new insights into the roles of accessory proteins in plant rhabdovirus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gluten triggers celiac disease in people who are genetically intolerant to gluten protein around the globe. The productive remedy for this health disorder is eliminating the consumption of gluten throughout the lifespan with non-glutenous food sources. Thus, the demand for gluten-free foods is escalating swiftly. Bakery products largely manufactured from wheat flour in the contemporary world play a key role in the human diet because they provide a unique texture and taste along with convenience for the end-user. Hence, this review is mainly focused on gluten-free bakery products. However, substitution of wheat flour in bakery product is encountered with a huge challenge because; replacement may impart to alter nutritional, structural, and sensorial properties remarkably. However, a variety of gluten-free bakery products are available in the present-day market, but they are dearth in protein and largely more in carbohydrates. Therefore, gluten-free bakery products should be developed by incorporating protein sources while improving their nutritional profile. Plant protein is a good source of alternative to animal protein. Therefore, this review addresses an overview of different plant-based proteins and the challenges that arise when they are incorporated into bakery products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective Design Sample Measurements Results Conclusion This study examined the influence of nutrition literacy and neighborhood on diet quality within the Mexican‐origin population residing in the United States, addressing a gap in existing literature that lacks focus on specific Latinx subgroups.This study used a descriptive, correlational design to examine the relationships between nutrition literacy, neighborhood ranking, and diet quality.A total of 130 Mexican origin participants living in the United States completed all components of this study.Participants completed demographics, the Nutrition Literacy Assessment Instrument (NLit), Area Deprivation Index (ADI), and Diet History Questionnaire III (DHQ3).Compared to the national average of 59, participants’ average score was 63.16. When examining subgroups of diet quality, participants scored poorly compared to the national average for saturated fats, seafood, and plant proteins. Nutrition literacy was a predictor of total protein foods, seafood, and plant proteins, while the ADI was a predictor of increased refined grains score.The present study provides insights about the influencing factors of diet quality in this population. Given the essential role diet has in shaping health outcomes and preventing chronic illness, addressing dietary subgroups within the Latinx population is critical to accurately informing nursing interventions and patient education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual reproduction in Charophyceae abounds in complex traits. Their gametangia develop as intricate structures, with oogonia spirally surrounded by envelope cells and richly pigmented antheridia. The red—probably protectant—pigmentation of antheridia is conserved across Charophyceae. Chara tomentosa is, however, unique in exhibiting this pigmentation and also in vegetative tissue. Here, we investigated the two sympatric species, C. tomentosa and Chara baltica, and compared their molecular chassis for pigmentation. Using reversed phase C30 high performance liquid chromatography (RP-C30-HPLC), we uncover that the major pigments are β-carotene, δ-carotene and γ-carotene; using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography equipped with a mass spectrometer (HS-SPME-GC-MS), we pinpoint that the unusually large carotenoid pool in C. tomentosa gives rise to diverse volatile apocarotenoids, including abundant 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one. Based on transcriptome analyses, we uncover signatures of the unique biology of Charophycaee and genes for pigment production, including monocyclized carotenoids. The rich carotenoid pool probably serves as a substrate for diverse carotenoid-derived metabolites, signified not only by (i) the volatile apocarotenoids we detected but (ii) the high expression of a gene coding for a cytochrome P450 enzyme related to land plant proteins involved in the biosynthesis of carotenoid-derived hormones. Overall, our data shed light on a key protection strategy of sexual reproduction in the widespread group of macroalgae. The genetic underpinnings of this are shared across hundreds of millions of years of plant and algal evolution. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolution of plant metabolism'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Soybean is an important plant source of protein worldwide. Increasing demands for soybean can be met by improving the quality of its seed protein. In this study, GmCG‐1, which encodes the β‐conglycinin α′ subunit, was identified via combined genome‐wide association study and transcriptome analysis. We subsequently knocked down GmCG‐1 and its paralogues GmCG‐2 and GmCG‐3 with CRISPR‐Cas9 technology and generated two stable multigene knockdown mutants. As a result, the β‐conglycinin content decreased, whereas the 11S/7S ratio, total protein content and sulfur‐containing amino acid content significantly increased. Surprisingly, the globulin mutant exhibited salt tolerance in both the germination and seedling stages. Little is known about the relationship between seed protein composition and the salt stress response in soybean. Metabonomics and RNA‐seq analysis indicated that compared with the WT, the mutant was formed through a pathway that was more similar to that of active salicylic acid biosynthesis; however, the synthesis of cytokinin exhibited greater defects, which could lead to increased expression of plant dehydrin‐related salt tolerance proteins and cell membrane ion transporters. Population evolution analysis suggested that GmCG‐1, GmCG‐2, and GmCG‐3 were selected during soybean domestication. The soybean accessions harboring GmCG‐1Hap1 presented relatively high 11S/7S ratios and relatively high salt tolerance. In conclusion, knockdown of the β‐conglycinin α and α′ subunits can improve the nutritional quality of soybean seeds and increase the salt tolerance of soybean plants, providing a strategy for designing soybean varieties with high nutritional value and high salt tolerance. Significance Statement: CRISPR‐CAS9 generated soybean mutants of β‐conglycinin α and α′ subunits increases sulfur‐containing amino acids and protein contents, further enhances the salt tolerance, thus providing a new strategy for designing soybean varieties with both high nutritional value and high salt tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is increasingly recognized as a leading cause of death and is associated with various comorbidities. This study evaluates the relationship between protein score, characterized by the plant-to-animal protein ratio (PAR) and total protein per calorie (Pro%), and body composition: fat percentage (FATP), fat mass (FATM), and fat-free mass (FFM). We categorized 4512 individuals (55.2% female) into tertiles based on their protein score and its components. Male participants in the highest and middle protein score tertiles exhibited significantly greater FFM in both adjusted and crude models, and lower FATP and FATM in adjusted model 2. FFM was elevated in the top (P < 0.001) and middle (P = 0.002) Pro% tertiles in males in both adjusted models and only in the top tertile of all models in females (P = 0.003). The analysis of male participants revealed significantly lower FATP and FATM in the highest tertiles of Pro% in adjusted models. Among female participants, only the highest PAR tertile was associated with significantly lower FATM in adjusted model 1 (P = 0.042). Our findings indicate that protein score and its components are associated with favorable body composition differences. Health administrators may leverage these insights to refine dietary guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing interest in plant-based proteins is driven by sustainability concerns and potential adverse reactions to animal protein consumption. Plant proteins, while promising, are known for their inferior digestibility compared to animal counterparts. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) offers an ancient, cost-effective approach to address this limitation. SSF enhances plant-based foods by augmenting protein content through microbial hydrolysis, thereby improving overall nutritional quality. This method not only boosts protein digestibility but also reduces larger polypeptides, generates bioactive peptides, refines amino acid profiles, and eliminates anti-nutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitors and tannins. Further investigation is essential to optimize the purification of protein isolates and examine their behaviour during digestion and absorption using in vitro, cellular, and in vivo models. In conclusion, SSF represents a promising, cost-effective, and high-yield processing method to produce nutritionally enhanced plant proteins, aligning with the demands of both the industry and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world's growing population and evolving food habits have created a need for alternative plant protein sources, with pulses playing a crucial role as healthy staple foods. Dry beans are high-protein pulses rich in essential amino acids like lysine and bioactive peptides. They have gathered attention for their nutritional quality and potential health benefits concerning metabolic syndrome. This review highlights dry bean proteins' nutritional quality, health benefits, and limitations, focusing on recent eco-friendly emerging technologies for their obtaining and functionalization. Antinutritional factors (ANFs) in bean proteins can affect their in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD), and lectins have been identified as potential allergens. Recently, eco-friendly emerging technologies such as ultrasound, microwaves, subcritical fluids, high-hydrostatic pressure, enzyme technology, and dry fractionation methods have been explored for extracting and functionalizing dry bean proteins. These technologies have shown promise in reducing ANFs, improving IVPD, and modifying allergen epitopes. Additionally, they enhance the techno-functional properties of bean proteins, making them more soluble, emulsifying, foaming, and gel-forming, with enhanced water and oil-holding capacities. By utilizing emerging innovative technologies, protein recovery from dry beans and the development of protein isolates can meet the demand for alternative protein sources while being eco-friendly, safe, and efficient. HIGHLIGHTS: Dry beans are a source of lysine-rich proteins and high-quality AA for the diet. Physical treatments can reduce the ANFs of beans and increase protein digestibility. Eco-friendly technologies can treat, modify, extract, and separate bean proteins. Conformational changes with protein unfolding improve WHC, EA, and solubility. The combined use of emerging technologies allows for conveying advantages of each one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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CAP (cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen5, pathogenesis-related proteins) superfamily proteins are widely distributed, can be subdivided into 11 subfamilies, and form a unique branch in fungi, named PRY proteins. Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne fungal pathogen of vascular plants that causes plant Verticillium wilt. However, the roles of CAP superfamily proteins in this fungus is unclear. Here, four CAP superfamily members with a conserved domain were identified in V. dahliae: VdPRY1, VdPRY2, VdPRY3, and VdPRY4. VdPRY1 and VdPRY3 were found to be key in suppressing plant immune responses. Moreover, these four members are highly expressed during early infection of cotton by V. dahliae. Deleting VdPRY1, VdPRY2, or VdPRY3 reduced the fungus’s ability to cause disease, but VdPRY4 deletion did not affect virulence. Deletion of any of four members did not impact fungal growth or carbon source use. Yeast two-hybrid experiments suggest that these proteins may function through interactions with each other. This investigation has, for the initial time, elucidated the pivotal roles of V. dahliae CAP superfamily proteins in inhibiting plant immunity and exerting virulence during interaction with the host plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochromes are photoreceptor proteins in plants, fungi, and bacteria. They can adopt two photochromic states with differential biochemical responses. The structural changes transducing the signal from the chromophore to the biochemical output modules are poorly understood due to challenges in capturing structures of the dynamic, full-length protein. Here, we present cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the phytochrome from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa BphP) in its resting (Pfr) and photoactivated (Pr) state. The kinase-active Pr state has an asymmetric, dimeric structure, whereas the kinase-inactive Pfr state opens up. This behavior is different from other known phytochromes and we explain it with the unusually short connection between the photosensory and output modules. Multiple sequence alignment of this region suggests evolutionary optimization for different modes of signal transduction in sensor proteins. The results establish a new mechanism for light-sensing by phytochrome histidine kinases and provide input for the design of optogenetic phytochrome variants. [Display omitted] • Cryo-EM structures of a bathy bacteriophytochrome at near-atomic resolution • Large structural changes between states lead to a strong on-off switching mechanism • Connector region length responsible for adjusting photoresponse Phytochromes are red-light photoreceptors. Bódizs et al. present the resting and activated state cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of a reverse-activated phytochrome consisting of a photosensory module and a histidine kinase (HK), which explain how the photosignal is transduced to the enzymatic domain and translated to a chemical signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallium (Ga), a low‐melting‐point liquid metal with soft, metallic, and biocompatible properties, offers many possibilities. However, the potential of composites that integrate Ga with biomacromolecules, combining their biocompatibility, elasticity, and conductivity, has not been thoroughly explored, which is a gap for advancing these composites in various applications. In parallel and independently, protein self‐assembled l.,;3bhnanofibrils have attracted great interest as building blocks for functional biomaterials. Here, composites of Ga droplets and nanofibrils are presented, self‐assembled from plant proteins of soy protein isolate (SPI). It is evidenced that in these composites self‐assembled SPI nanofibrils can effectively reduce the oxidation of Ga droplets. It is observed that the composites of β‐sheet nanofibrils and Ga droplets offer mechanical properties similar to only fibrils‐based films. Films of 32 wt% Ga in SPI showed enhanced electrical conductivity and well‐structured nanofibrils with multifunctional potential in gas‐sensing and electronically controlled antibacterial applications. It is illustrated that the 32 wt% Ga in SPI composite offered the best sensing performance for a diatomic molecule, CO, and electro‐stimulation of this composite effectively reduced bacterial growth. The Ga in SPI composite, combining the advantages of protein nanofibrils and Ga droplets, offers great potential in future biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Plant‐based diets (PBDs) have gained popularity in recent years due to their co‐benefits for human and planetary health. Although clinical guidelines now recommend well‐balanced PBDs, it remains unclear how dietitians in the United Kingdom (UK) and Republic of Ireland (ROI) view such diets and their implementation in practice. This study aimed to evaluate the perspectives of registered dietitians (RDs) on the role of a whole food plant‐based diet (WFPBD) in clinical practice.A cross‐sectional online survey was conducted amongst RDs in the UK and ROI between September and November 2023.A total of 335 RDs participated in the survey. Most RDs (76%) agree that a well‐planned WFPBD is suitable for all stages of life, with some (48%) expressing concerns over the risk of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Three‐quarters of RDs (75%) incorrectly thought that plant protein is incomplete, necessitating protein combining. A WFPBD was on average ranked fourth out of 14 dietary strategies for managing some of the leading non‐communicable diseases. Excluding dairy and eggs was the primary reason preventing RDs from personally adopting a WFPBD, whereas meal preparation and cost were the main barriers for their clients. The majority of RDs (79%) feel they did not receive sufficient education on WFPBDs, with 58% agreeing there are insufficient evidence‐based resources available in their field. Only 33% feel supported when advocating for a WFPBD in their workplace.Although many RDs view WFPBDs as viable and clinically relevant, significant barriers to their implementation exist, underscoring the need for enhanced education and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical Application This study aims to obtain sunnhemp protein isolate (SHPI) and dextran conjugates by dry heating method of Maillard conjugation. The effects of different incubation time (0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 days) on the molecular flexibility, available lysine content, antioxidant properties, molecular structure, and thermal and micro‐structural properties of conjugates were compared with SHPI (no conjugation) at 60°C and 79% relative humidity. The results indicated the formation of SHPI–dextran conjugates as confirmed by the change in molecular flexibility, lysine content, antioxidant activities, color, and water activity values. The molecular structure revealed the confirmation of covalent bonding between SHPI and dextran. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermo‐gravimetric analysis results exhibited improvement in the thermal stability of SHPI when conjugated with dextran. The microstructural characterization showed that Maillard conjugation changed the surface structure of SHPI. The analysis of amino acid composition displayed that lysine, arginine, and phenylalanine were the dominant Maillard reaction sites of SHPI and dextran. Among all the conjugated samples, 5 days of incubation time was selected as an optimum condition for the development of SHPI–dextran conjugates on the basis of the aforementioned characterization. Overall, it was concluded that Maillard conjugation of sunnhemp protein with dextran via dry‐heating technique could modify and improve its various attributes.The conjugation of plant proteins with polysaccharide through the Maillard reaction under dry heating conditions represents a natural and green technique for improving the techno‐functional properties of proteins. The study has the potential to establish framework for the utilization of Sunnhemp protein isolate‐dextran conjugates. This approach offers the potential for cost‐effective production of emulsifiers and development of effective encapsulating matrices. The investigation expands on an underutilized plant protein source facilitating an alternative to animal‐based proteins and contributing to the development of a sustainable circular bioeconomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegans have lower risks of some health problems such as ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. However, they are at high risk of some nutrient deficiencies, including iodine, because plant foods are poor sources of the nutrient, except for seaweed. Also, some vegans refuse to use iodized salt or dietary supplements containing iodine. Urinary iodine concentration among vegans, indicative of mild, moderate, or severe deficiency, is common among a large percentage of vegans in many countries. Similarly, there is a high incidence of inadequate iodine concentration in the breast milk of vegan mothers. This article provides information on the iodine content of brown, red, and green algae. Some seaweed types, especially brown algae, contain very high amounts of iodine, and so, soaking and blanching are necessary to reduce the iodine content to safe levels to prevent iodine toxicity. This article focuses on seaweed and its use as a source of iodine. Because some vegans do not use iodized salt or iodine-containing supplements and because plant foods are poor sources of iodine, seaweed is a potential source of the nutrient, but to reduce the risk of toxicity, soaking and blanching are needed to dispose of excess iodine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean (Glycine max) is a highly self‐pollinated species, but cross‐pollination occasionally occurs and variations within cultivars can be observed under certain conditions. To explore the potential uses of natural hybridization and intra‐cultivar/advanced line variations, 78 of breeding lines derived from the segregants of natural hybridization and the intra‐cultivar/line variations and their 17 source cultivars/lines were evaluated over four crop seasons for yield, seed weight, and other agronomic traits. All the lines were also genotyped using BARCSoySNP6K assays to compare the genetic similarities between the new lines and the source genotypes. Analysis of variance results indicated that genotypic differences, year effects, and genotype × year interactions were significant for all the traits. The broad‐sense heritability of the traits was estimated to be 67.22%–98.80%, suggesting that the traits were mainly affected by genetic factors. Compared with the source materials, yield of 34 breeding lines exceeded by >5%, and 17 of them had yield increases of 11.85%–41.59%. Seed weight increased significantly in 24 lines, and 11 lines showed improvements in both seed weight and yield, although there was a negative correlation between these two traits. In addition, 36 and 29 lines showed a shortened period of flowering and maturity, respectively. Plant height of 20 lines decreased by >8.5 cm. Genotypic matching rate between the new lines and the source materials varied from 48.86% to 99.90%. These results demonstrated that both segregations resulting from natural crossing and intra‐cultivar/line variations could be used to improve important traits in soybean. Core Ideas: Soybean lines derived from natural hybridization and intra‐cultivar/line variations were evaluated for traits.Many lines showed improvements in single or multiple traits of yield, seed weight, and other agronomic characters.The genetic similarity between the new lines and source materials was revealed through SoySNP6K genotyping.The study proved that both segregants of natural hybridization and intra‐line variations could be used in breeding. Plain Language Summary: Soybean is a major crop in the United States and the world as well. Soybean provides a major supply of vegetable oil for human and plant protein meal for animals. Genetic improvement is a key solution to sustainable agriculture and food production. To explore the potential uses of segregations of natural open‐crossing and variation within varieties, we evaluated different characters of 78 new breeding lines and their source materials for four years. Compared with the source materials, yield of 34 new breeding lines exceeded by >5%. Seed weight increased significantly in 24 lines, and 11 lines showed improvements in both seed weight and yield. This study strongly demonstrated that natural hybridization and intra‐cultivar/line variations could be used in soybean improvement. It also provided evidence that genetic improvement by plant breeding is an effective approach to challenges in agriculture and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant‐based diets reduces the risk of chronic conditions. The interaction between protein source and other macronutrients—fat (F) and carbohydrate (C)—has yet to be investigated. The aim was to assess the main and interactive effects of protein‐source (plant vs. animal) and F:C (high or low) and the transition from an Australian diet to a whole food diet on various health markers in older individuals. This single‐blinded, parallel, randomised experimental trial used a 2 × 2 factorial design to compare pro‐vegetarian (70:30 plant to animal) versus omnivorous (50:50 plant to animal) diets at 14% protein and varying fat‐to‐carbohydrate ratios (high fat ~40% vs. low fat ~30%) over 4 weeks. Study foods were provided, alcohol consumption was discouraged, and dietary intake was determined through food records. Analysis included both RCT and observational data. Changes in appetite, palatability of diets, and dietary intake were assessed. Body composition, muscle strength, function, gut microbiome, and cardiometabolic health parameters were measured. Data from 113 (of the 128 randomised) individuals aged 65–75 years were analysed. Pro‐vegetarian diets reduced diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and glucose levels. Moreover, the overall sample exhibited increased short‐chain fatty acids and FGF21 levels, as well as improvements in body composition, function, and cardio‐metabolic parameters irrespective of dietary treatment. Transitioning to a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, fibre, and moderate protein was associated with improved health markers in older age, with added benefits from pro‐vegetarian diets. Further research on long‐term effects is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive comprehension of the interaction between proteins and polyphenols is crucial for advancing their utilization in food processing. This study investigated no‐covalent interaction between pea protein isolate (PPI) and quercetin (Que) through spectroscopic analysis and molecular simulation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectrum showed that the interaction between PPI and Que changed the secondary structure of the protein due to a decrease in α‐helix content and an increase in the random coil. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the Quebound PPI via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions (ΔH > 0, ΔS > 0, and ΔG < 0), which was also confirmed by molecular docking. Particle size and ζ‐potential showed that PPI and Que demonstrated effective interaction and binding capabilities, enhancing the stability. In addition, the antioxidant and bioaccessibility of complexes have also been enhanced. This study shed a light on the application of protein–polyphenol complexes for developing functional foods. Practical Application: Interaction between pea protein isolate and quercetin can change the protein conformation to maintain the stability of quercetin and is helpful to expand the market value and application value of plant protein. The research has important implications for using leguminous protein as embedded support to improve the stability of polyphenols compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are sensors for the G protein complex to sense changes in environmental factors and molecular switches for G protein complex signal transduction. In this study, the homologous gene of GPCR-like proteins was identified from maize and named as ZmCOLD1. Subcellular analysis showed that the ZmCOLD1 protein is localized to the cell membrane and endoplasmic reticulum. A CRISPR/Cas9 knock-out line of ZmCOLD1 was further created and its plant height was significantly lower than the wild-type maize at both the seedling and adult stages. Histological analysis showed that the increased cell number but significantly smaller cell size may result in dwarfing of zmcold1, indicating that the ZmCOLD1 gene could regulate plant height development by affecting the cell division process. Additionally, ZmCOLD1 was verified to interact with the maize Gα subunit, ZmCT2, though the central hydrophilic loop domain by in vivo and in vitro methods. Abscisic acid (ABA) sensitivity analysis by seed germination assays exhibited that zmcold1 were hypersensitive to ABA, indicating its important roles in ABA signaling. Finally, transcriptome analysis was performed to investigate the transcriptional change in zmcold1 mutant. Overall, ZmCOLD1 functions as a GPCR-like protein and an important regulator to plant height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arabidopsis LIM proteins are named after the initials of three proteins Lin-11, Isl-1, and MEC-3, which belong to a class of transcription factors that play an important role in the developmental regulation of eukaryotes and are also involved in a variety of life processes, including gene transcription, the construction of the cytoskeleton, signal transduction, and metabolic regulation. Plant LIM proteins have been shown to regulate actin bundling in different cells, but their role in immunity remains elusive. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are a family of conserved serine/threonine protein kinases that link upstream receptors to their downstream targets. Pathogens produce pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that trigger the activation of MAPK cascades in plants. Recently, we conducted a large-scale phosphoproteomic analysis of PAMP-induced Arabidopsis plants to identify putative MAPK targets. One of the identified phospho-proteins was WLIM2A, an Arabidopsis LIM protein. In this study, we investigated the role of WLIM2A in plant immunity. We employed a reverse-genetics approach and generated wlim2a knockout lines using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. We also generated complementation and phosphosite-mutated WLIM2A expression lines in the wlim2a background. The wlim2a lines were compromised in their response to Pseudomonas syringae Pst DC3000 but showed enhanced resistance to the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinereae. Transcriptome analyses of wlim2a mutants revealed the deregulation of immune hormone biosynthesis and signaling of salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET) pathways. The wlim2a mutants also exhibited altered stomatal phenotypes. Analysis of plants expressing WLIM2A variants of the phospho-dead or phospho-mimicking MAPK phosphorylation site showed opposing stomatal behavior and resistance phenotypes in response to Pst DC3000 infection, proving that phosphorylation of WLIM2A plays a crucial role in plant immunity. Overall, these data demonstrate that phosphorylation of WLIM2A by MAPKs regulates Arabidopsis responses to plant pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various bio-based recombinant proteins have been produced for industrial, medical, and research purposes. Plants are potential platforms for recombinant protein production because of several advantages. Therefore, establishing a system with high target gene expression to compensate for the low protein yield of plant systems is crucial. In particular, selecting and combining strong terminators is essential because the expression of target genes can be substantially enhanced. Here, we aimed to quantify the enhancement in the fluorescence intensity of the turbo green fluorescence protein (tGFP) caused by the best double-terminator combinations compared to that of the control vector using agroinfiltration in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. tGFP fluorescence increased by 4.1-fold in leaf samples infiltrated with a vector containing a double terminator and markedly increased by a maximum of 23.7-fold when co-infiltrated with the geminiviral vector and P19 compared to that in constructs containing an octopine synthase terminator. Polyadenylation site analysis in leaf tissues expressing single or dual terminators showed that the first terminator influenced the polyadenylation site determination of the second terminator, resulting in different polyadenylation sites compared with when the terminator is located first. The combination of the high-expression terminators and geminiviral vectors can increase the production of target proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the efficacy of various artificial diets on the mortality rates of Bemisia tabaci (whiteflies) and evaluates the insecticidal properties of protein extracts from selected tropical plants. Colonies of B. tabaci were maintained in a controlled greenhouse environment and fed with different artificial diets. A bioassay method using vials with two hollow side arms was employed for administering the diets and for infestation with whiteflies. The biotype of B. tabaci was determined using a RAPD PCR test. Three distinct artificial diets were tested, alongside periodic renewals from natural hosts to maintain genetic vigor in the laboratory colony. Bioassays were conducted to assess the effectiveness of these diets and to determine the insecticidal activity of protein extracts from seven tropical plants. The results indicated that while the complex diet without TRIS led to 100% mortality within six days, other diets showed variable mortality rates with no significant difference in mean mortality. Our study found high mortality rates when CHAPS, a common solubilizing agent for membrane proteins, was used in the extraction process, suggesting its toxicity to B. tabaci. Among the tested plant protein extracts, four exhibited over 90% mortality at 72 hours, indicating potential as natural insecticides. The research highlights the need for careful selection of solvents in bioassays and points to the potential of young leaves from tropical plants as sources of anti-whitefly compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Exploration of under-utilized Bambara groundnut as a potential source of protein for novel functional products. • Its isolation, characterization and utilization in food matrices also provides complete overview to enhance its functionality. • Future prospects in utilizing potential of BG proteins. Bambara groundnut (BG) is a particularly valuable underutilized crop indigenous to Africa that has gained popularity due to its high adaptation to climate change, drought tolerance and pest and disease resistance. It is chiefly cultivated as a plant-based protein alternative (containing 18–30 % protein) to meat in rural cuisines rather than an oil-producing seed, as commonly seen with other legumes. BG contains all the essential and non-essential amino acids in sufficient quantities to fulfil dietary and functional requirements in diverse food systems. This review delves into the techniques employed for the extraction/ isolation of BG proteins and their characterization. Different methods for the hydroxylation of BG proteins have been comprehensively reviewed and the relation between biological activity of BG peptides and amino acid composition has also been established. Comprehensive insights are given into the diverse techno-functional attributes of legume proteins, covering aspects like solubility, water and oil absorption capacity, emulsification, foaming, and gelling ability. The text also emphasizes the practical applications of these proteins across a range of products, viz. , bakery items, extruded snacks, therapeutic foods and desserts. New developments in BG protein research have been outlined along with recommendations for future research and applications, encouraging its widespread utilization across the food sector and facilitating a successful transition toward more sustainable plant-based diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the cellular level, plant immunity is orchestrated by a complex network of proteins, among which the 14-3-3 proteins have emerged as pivotal players. Both microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP)-triggered immunity (MTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) are critical for plant survival against microbial threats, and the 14-3-3 proteins have been identified as central regulators of these processes. Due to their multifunctionality in many plant pathways and conserved nature, 14-3-3 proteins often serve as targets for viral, bacterial, and fungal elicitors/effectors. This highlights their significance as crucial targets to enhance crop resilience and disease resistance. 14-3-3 proteins, ubiquitously present in eukaryotic cells, are regulatory proteins involved in a plethora of cellular processes. In plants, they have been studied in the context of metabolism, development, and stress responses. Recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of 14-3-3 proteins in regulating plant immunity. The ability of 14-3-3 proteins to modulate immune responses is primarily attributed to their function as interaction hubs, mediating protein–protein interactions and thereby regulating the activity and overall function of their binding partners. Here, we shed light on how 14-3-3 proteins contribute to plant defense mechanisms, the implications of their interactions with components of plant immunity cascades, and the potential for leveraging this knowledge for crop improvement strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]